If Brian Schottenheimer can keep the band together in 2026, the Dallas Cowboys might just be one of the most dangerous offenses in football-again. That’s not wishful thinking, it’s based on what we saw in 2025: an explosive, high-powered unit that put up numbers with the best of them.
Dak Prescott was slinging it all season, finishing with over 4,500 passing yards and 30 touchdowns. CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens each cleared the 1,000-yard mark, while Javonte Williams added another 1,000-plus on the ground.
Jake Ferguson continued to grow into a reliable target at tight end. Simply put, the offense did its job-and then some.
But all that firepower was largely wasted thanks to a defense that couldn’t hold up its end of the bargain. The Cowboys finished 7-9-1, a record that doesn’t come close to reflecting the kind of offensive production they had.
And that’s the frustrating part. Because if this team had even an average defense-just middle of the pack-we might be talking about a playoff run instead of another early offseason.
Still, there’s reason for optimism in Dallas. The core pieces are in place, and the offense ranked fifth in EPA per play and fourth in success rate-elite territory by any standard. The challenge now is keeping that core intact and building a defense that can at least tread water.
Pickens, for one, continues to show why he’s a priority re-signing. The soon-to-be free agent made headlines during Super Bowl Week, taking home Offensive MVP honors in the Pro Bowl Games' Flag Football challenge.
He caught three passes for 32 yards and a touchdown, including a go-ahead score from Dak midway through the fourth quarter to help the NFC rally for a 66-52 win. It was a small sample, sure-but it looked a lot like what Cowboys fans saw all season: Prescott to Pickens, making it look easy.
And that chemistry is exactly what Dallas can’t afford to lose. The front office has decisions to make, and they need to make them fast.
Retaining Pickens and Williams should be at the top of the list. These aren’t just good players-they’re foundational pieces in one of the league’s best offenses.
The good news? Dallas is in a strong position to make moves.
With potentially more than $100 million in cap space and two first-round picks, the Cowboys have the flexibility to reshape this roster. But that flexibility only matters if it’s used.
Sitting back and hoping internal development solves everything won’t cut it-not in a league where windows close fast.
Jerry Jones has said the right things. That money isn’t an issue.
That the team is committed to winning. But Cowboys fans have heard that before.
What they want now is action. Re-sign Pickens.
Lock in the offensive core. Use those draft picks and cap dollars to fix a defense that ranked near the bottom of the league in just about every meaningful metric.
Because here’s the truth: Elite offenses don’t guarantee playoff success, but they give you a shot-if the rest of the roster can hold up. Dallas doesn’t need a top-five defense. It just needs one that can get key stops, force a few turnovers, and not put the offense in a 14-point hole every week.
The Cowboys have the talent. They have the resources.
And they have the urgency, after another year without postseason football. Now it’s about execution-on and off the field.
If they get it right, 2026 could finally be the year this offense carries them somewhere special. But if the defense doesn’t improve, we’ll be back here again next February, talking about what could’ve been.